Big news for Canadiens fans: Montreal has successfully reclaimed forward Samuel Blais through the waiver process and has assigned him to their AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. But here's where it gets interesting—this move follows a brief stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who initially claimed Blais after Montreal waived him.
On November 27, 2025, the Canadiens officially announced that Samuel Blais, a 27-year-old left winger, is returning to their organization but will be playing for the Laval Rocket for now. This decision aims to bolster the Rocket's roster, especially as injuries have thinned their lineup.
To put this in perspective, Blais was part of Montreal’s preseason squad but was placed on waivers, where Toronto swooped in and picked him up. Interestingly, while with the Maple Leafs, he reunited with Craig Berube, his former coach from his time at the St. Louis Blues. During his short run in Toronto, Blais appeared in eight games, contributing with one goal and two assists—solid but not spectacular numbers.
What’s notably strategic about this move is that Montreal was the only team to claim Blais off waivers, allowing them to send him directly to Laval without immediate NHL roster complications. This adds valuable depth to their AHL team, which is crucial for maintaining competitiveness amid the inevitable injuries that teams face.
Montreal also has the option to keep Blais on their NHL roster without sending him to waivers for up to 10 games or 30 days—a detail that plays a big part in roster management. These rules are cumulative, so if Blais moves up and down multiple times, all periods count toward these limits.
Right now, Montreal’s NHL roster stands at 23 active players. Given that, and considering their healthy lineup during a Western road trip, the front office decided it made sense to let Blais develop in Laval rather than using a spot on the NHL roster prematurely.
And this is the part most people miss: such waiver claims and assignments are not just about immediate impact but also about longer-term team strategy, flexibility, and depth management. Do you think Montreal made the right call reclaiming Blais and assigning him to Laval? Could he be the hidden asset that surprises everyone later this season? Share your thoughts—this roster chess game is far from over!
